Complaints in Colorado about problems with voting machines are not isolated to Denver, despite the heavy media attention focused there. I'm hearing secondhand that complaints have been registered "across the state," including more heavily Republican areas such as south Jeffco. Why then would the Colorado Democratic Party sue only to keep Denver's polls open to 9 PM? It doesn't take a genius to figure out why.
Any legally registered voter in line to vote at their proper polling location at 7 PM - no matter where across the state - has to be allowed to vote. Until we see enough evidence to compel us otherwise, the problems across the state have to be seen as manageable through current laws and procedures.
Regardless, no special … [Read more...]

Rahm Emanuel told the Washington Times that he's "nervous" about his party's prospects in the House on Election Day, following the final round of polls. The expectations have been built up too big, and whatever gains the Dems do make after today will seem like a disappointment. … [Read more...]

The Republican Party's Get-Out-the-Vote (GOTV) program in Colorado is second to none. Having seen it function firsthand, I can honestly say that the quality and quantity of work being done here outstrips not only what was accomplished in the state in 2004 and 2002, it also is quantifiably doing the best job of any state in the country.
Who will benefit the most? Statewide candidates like Mark Hillman (Treasurer), Mike Coffman (Secretary of State), and Brian Davidson (CU Regent). Congressional candidates Marilyn Musgrave and Doug Lamborn are on to victory, while Rick O'Donnell finds new life in his bid to upset Ed Perlmutter and the pundits.
State house candidates like Affie Ellis (HD 29), Bill Crane (HD 27), & Ramey Johnson (HD 23) in … [Read more...]

One of the closer races in Colorado figures to be the contest for state treasurer. If for some reason you are reading this blog and haven't voted yet, here are five reasons to support Mark Hillman, the only candidate for State Treasurer who has (as circulated by email):
1. Balanced a state budget. In the State Senate, Mark has done that seven times. He knows that the value of government must be balanced against the cost of government to Colorado families and businesses. (His opponent has never been elected by the people.)
2. Business experience. Mark owns and operates his family's farm near Burlington, where he has grown wheat for the past 13 years. He knows firsthand about hard work, long hours and sound financial planning. (His … [Read more...]

On this Election Eve, here's some interesting information. If you know someone who is a member of the Colorado Education Association (CEA) or American Federation of Teachers (AFT)-Colorado - our state's teachers unions - you might want to point them to this Web page (compliments of Independence Institute research).
Here are some selected tidbits of information on how union members' money has been spent on Colorado's elections in 2006:
According to reports available on November 2, Colorado teachers unions have given $1,481,043 in combined contributions to political parties, candidates, and registered 527 political groups in 2006. The Colorado Education Association (CEA) and four of its local affiliates, … [Read more...]

Democrats may be kicking themselves - or John Kerry, or a good economy, or the common sense of the American people - on Wednesday for squandering a big chance. All hopes for a massive electoral "wipeout" (a la Chris Matthews) to take over Congress, seem to be fading as Republicans have the momentum going into tomorrow's national elections. I stand by my earlier predictions. … [Read more...]

Thank you to Democrat Senate District 22 candidate Paula Noonan for taking the time to respond to my post on her heated election campaign with some clarifying comments. I responded to some of her remarks in the comment box.
Additionally, some of her claims could not be independently verified and may deserve further scrutiny (e.g., I can find no evidence that Sheriff Ted Mink has withdrawn support from Mike Kopp's campaign). Of course, it is a little late for the purposes of this election to unearth these claims, unless one of my readers has a source.
Or what does anyone think about invoking the name of Ted Haggard to attack Mike? … [Read more...]

Do I think Beauprez's campaign is in bad shape? Yes, I'm not stupid. But the Republican running for governor is NOT trailing by 22 points - as reports the Rocky Mountain News this morning.
Take a closer look at the poll numbers, conveniently released on the day before the Republicans' big Get-Out-The-Vote kicks off. Among other things, this same survey showed Amendment 43 losing 41-40, which is way off from what other polls have shown. The sample of "likely voters" is 37% Republican, 38% Democrat, and 25% Independent. That turnout model is a little skewed, I suspect. And doing phone polls during the day on Monday through Wednesday will likely distort results, too.
(One other note: The one-note anti-Beauprez vitriol of ToTheRight's … [Read more...]

Apparently, John Kerry has grown jealous of Howard Dean's record-setting propensity to say stupid things that help Republicans. I was going to write a detailed post about the stuffed shirt Massachusetts Senator's comments, but then I read Jonah Goldberg's column on the topic:
Kerry insists he was making a joke about President Bush, not a joke about students who aren't smart enough to do better than the military. While there's virtually nothing in the text or video of his remarks to lend support for this, save for a wan smile he offered to the mute audience, it's possible that was his intent. After all, Kerry is an awful politician, a human toothache with the charisma of a 19th-century Oxford Latin tutor. One can't rule out the … [Read more...]